De beste steden om te bezoeken in de buurt van Saint-Tropez

While you could easily spend a week in St. Tropez, relaxing and lunching, the area around St. Tropez has a lot to see. There are many vineyards and cute towns nearby. Local wine estates are rural gems dotted throughout the region. Wine-growers on these estates have lovingly worked their land, using the same methods, for generations, producing delicious nectar for us to share.

Outside peak summer, you may not spot any celebs hiding behind designer sunglasses, but you’ll get a more authentic experience: that of locals playing pétanque in the shade of age-old plane trees, and spirited market stallholders selling handmade products. Plus, you’ll have the wildflower-lined coastal walking paths and the narrow lanes of the nearby medieval towns pretty much to yourself.

Here are the areas that shouldn’t be missed:

Ramatuelle

The Ramatuelle is divided into three distinct areas:

The Old Town

Perched on a hilltop 15 minutes from St. Tropez, medieval village Ramatuelle is een pittoresk labyrint van smalle straatjes en steegjes begroeid met weelderige vegetatie en geurige bloemen. De smalle steegjes barsten van de kleine boetiekjes en werkplaatsen van ambachtslieden, schilders en sieradenmakers. Kleine binnenplaatsen lokken je om meer te ontdekken. Koop souvenirs in de kleine winkeltjes die lokaal gemaakte manden, Provençaalse zepen en olijfolie verkopen. Er zijn ook schattige restaurants met buitenterrassen waar je kunt genieten van het spectaculaire panoramische uitzicht terwijl je je tegoed doet aan traditionele Franse gerechten.

Besides wandering the quiet cobbled streets, Ramatuelle has a lot to offer in terms of culture. In the summer there are many music, arts and theatre festivals — the most popular being the Ramatuelle festival, where you can see French-language comedy variety shows.

The village Ramatuelle was originally created to allow the locals to escape the numerous pirates landing on the shores.

Wine Country

The surrounding Ramatuelle area feels very Provençale, and you’ll find several high-end organic wineries with stunning chateaus. It’s the perfect place to do a wine-tasting tour (with a driver, of course!)

The area is famous for its pale pink rosé, which is so excellent because of the mineral-rich soil and the salt, from the sea. If you are from Provence, summer without rosé is not possible.

Our favorite winery is Fondugues Pradugues , omdat ze niet alleen een aantal van de beste wijnen van Frankrijk produceren, maar ook twee uiterst charmante restaurants op het landgoed hebben: Le Chai en L'éphémère.

Begin met een wijnproeverij in hun zeer chique lounge. Geniet vervolgens van een lunch of diner voor de wijnranken op het terras van Le Chai terwijl u hun voortreffelijke wijnen proeft. Het menu verandert dagelijks, afhankelijk van wat er op de markt in het seizoen is en de inspiratie van de chef.

Als u de voorkeur geeft aan absolute privacy, kunnen ze een eettafel voor u neerzetten en u een heerlijke picknick serveren (natuurlijk met wijn) onder een grote parasolden tussen de druivenranken.

Feeling social? Check of their gourmet food truck, L’éphémère , and chat with other diners under the pines.

The Beach

What became famous as “Saint-Tropez’s beach” –Plage Pampelonne– is actually in Ramatuelle, not St-Tropez. One of the most famous beaches in the world, it is certainly the most posh beach party scene on the French Riviera. There are yachts. And stars. And lots and lots of beaches with tanned bodies sprawled about them dressed in little more than a squirt of SPF 4. The dreamy coastline is filled with so many stunning beaches that choosing which one to visit can be a tricky affair. Getting reservations for the right table, and how to dress for them, is a major preoccupation for many jet-set. Here’s your guide to navigating the beach clubs of St. Tropez.

Grimaud

Grimaud is divided into two very distinct areas:

Port Grimaud is een Disneyachtig mini-Venetië

Between a 20-to-50-minute drive (depending on traffic) or a faster boat ride, along the coast in the direction of Cannes, is a very unique port town. Often referred to as “Little Venice”, the relaxed town of Port Grimaud combineert op schitterende wijze de glorieuze schoonheid van de Rivièra met de provinciale charme van Venetië.

This picturesque mini-port offers diverse eateries serving mid-range cuisine in a scenic setting. It’s very touristy and can feel a bit like a Disney-version of Venice, but it’s worth seeing once.

Grimaud, the Medieval Village

Head inland to the medieval city of Grimaud itself, where thriving galleries and studios have arisen in this charming location filled with motivation for painters, sculptors and writers. Nestled in the heart of the Maures Mountains and bordering the Gulf of St. Tropez, Grimaud has maintained its medieval character. The village is very charming, with its flowered streets winding all the way from the Romanesque church to the ruins of the feudal castle.

Gassin

Gassin is divided into three areas that blend together and compliment each other:

The New Village

The tiny ‘new’ residential village of Gassin , which has been built below the medieval village, was designed using a style based on, but not replicating, the style of the medieval village above. It’s not a destination, but you may notice it as you visit the medieval village.

The Medieval Village

Gassin , like the neighboring village of Ramatuelle, was built as a hilltop refuge from the marauding bands of pirates who pillaged along the coast. To best explore the small old town of Gassin, you will need to park your car below the village and climb the steep access road to where well-preserved stone houses, many painted in sunset hues, huddle together. The narrow lanes and rustic gates bloom with white jasmine and lavender wisteria flowers.

Er is niet heel veel te zien, omdat het stadje erg klein is, maar er zijn een aantal goede restaurants met terrassen waar u kunt zitten en genieten van een weids uitzicht over het hele schiereiland vanaf een hoogte van 200 meter boven zeeniveau. Vanaf de dertiende-eeuwse wallen kunt u uitkijken over de kust en de steden die verspreid liggen over het platteland van de Var.

The church, Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption , was built on the rocks in 1558. Its massive buttresses support the walls, and its tall square bell tower sits of the far side of the church square, looming over the village. Have a seat on the terrace at Le Pescadou if you’ve worked up an appetite.

Wineries

Gassin, like most communities on this peninsula, has remained loyal to its viticulture. This supports the environment as well as the local economy. In the crystalline soil the vines, protected by the hills, flourish on the hillsides or on the plains under the Mediterranean sun, caressed by a gentle, maritime breeze. If you are in the mood to visit Gassin wineries, we recommend Chateau Barbeyrolles , Domaine de la Rouillere  and the well-known Chateau Minuty .